Boot-crimp



N. PETERS. PHOTO-LlTMOCAPHER. WASHINGTON D C PELATIAHSTEVENS, JR., OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT-CRIME'.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,666, dated July "15, 1844. I

To all 'wh-0m t may concern Be it known that I, PELATIAH STEVENS, Jr., of Canton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Crimping or Forming and Stretching the Front Leather ofBoots, and that the following description and accompanying drawings constitute a full and exact specification thereof.

Of the drawings above mentioned Figure l, represents a side elevation of my improved boot crimping machine. Fig. 2, is a vertical nearly central but transverse section and Fig'. 3 is a central and longitudinal section thereof.

My improvement consists in the manner of arranging the several parts, which confine, stretch and form the leather, so that the operation of straining and giving the form to the front leather of a boot, may be effected in a more convenient and thorough manner than has been heretofore accomplished in mechanism of this character, and which has been brought to my notice. For this purpose the boot leather former, A, Figs. l 2, 3, is arranged between two holding plates, as seen at B, C, Fig. 2, one of the said plates, viz, B, being represented in Fig. 1, and the other in Fig. 3. The upper edges a, b, c, of each holding plate, is shaped, or cut out to correspond, or nearly correspond with the shape of the rear edge, and bottom Of the foot of the boot former, and each holder plate has a series of clamps D, D, l), adapted, or hinged to its exterior surface, and forced down upon it, or toward it, by means of cam levers E, E, E, &c., screws, or other` proper contrivance, the upper edge of each clamp being placed against the upper edge of the holder plate. The boot former A, rests upon a sliding bed piece G, which is suitably guided (at its ends between the posts H, H, of the frame which supports the mechanism,) so as to readily pla-y up or down, when forced up, or lowered by a screw I. The holder plates are each firmly bolted, or otherwise properly secured to the posts H, H. The foot of the screw I, rests and moves in a step or socketK, let into, or secured upon the top of a cross tie bar L, which extends from one post H, to the other as seen in Figs. l, and 3, and the said screw has a small fly-wheel M, arranged upon it horizontally, as seen in the drawing, and for the purpose of turning it either in i UTI one direction or the other as the case may require. Upon the top of the boot former I apply, what I denominate a wrinkle preventer, N', the same consisting of two metallic spring plates, e, f, jointed to a lever g, lz, c', whose fulcrum is at g, on the top of the bed piece of the boot former. The lower edge of each of the spring plates, is shaped or curved to correspond, or nearly correspond with the angle of the foot, and leg of the upper side of the boot former, as seen in Fig. l. lWhen the lever g, L, i, is pressed down upon the leather upon the boot former, the plates spring apart, and press the leather so clos-ely upon the boot former as to smooth it thereon and press out the wrinkles which may form during the operation of elevating the boot former. The wrinkle preventer is moved, or workedup and down, by the attendant so as to fit the leather closely to the angle of the boot former.

The manner of operating the machine, consists in placing a boot form on the rest, or bed piece Gr, and depressing it to a suitable distance below the holder plates. This being accomplished each edge of the wet leather, is inserted between the edges of the holder plates, and the clamps thereof, and the clamps brought down upon it so as to confine it thereto. The screw I, is then put in motion so as to elevate the boot former, or cause it to arise fully in contact with the leather. The wrinkle preventer is next brought down up-on the leather and form, and moved up and down, so as to press out the wrinkles as the elevation of the boot former is increased. Such parts of the leather as may be found to be subjected to too great a strain, may be eased by loosening the particular clamp or clamps by which they are confined; and when the leather' is sufficiently strained it is secured to the boot former by tacks in the usual way.

I claiml. The above described arrangement of the clamping plates and clamps, so as to extend` entirely around, or in opposition with the lower edges of the boot former, and have a space between the clamp plates to receive,`

and permit the depression of the boot former belowand its elevation above their upper edges in the manner set forth; the said improved arrangement of the parts enabling the attendant to stretch, and shape the leather more thoroughly, conveniently and expeditiously than by others heretofore used.

2. And I also claim the Wrinkle preventer, as applied to, or combined With the boot former and Constructed and used substantinlly in the manner as herein before set 5 forth.

In testimony that the foregoing is a correct speeication of my said .invention I have hereto set my signature this thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty four.

PELATIAH STEVENS, JR. Vitnesses:

NATHAN VITHINGTON, JAMES TUCKER. 

